Kundalakesi and valayaapati in verse

Author's Preface

Tamil is one of the most ancient languages in the world; it is replete with rare and great artistic wealth! But the wealth it has lost owing to the vicissitudes of time and the evil intrusion across the sea is immeasurable. Tamil Nadu was subjected to innumerable wars and invasions by armed forces that resulted in the loss of an enormous amount of artistic wealth due to plunder and fires. The two epic poems 'Kundalakesi' and 'Valayapati' were also lost. After presenting Kundalakesi in verse, I am also presenting Valayapati. May the readers accept this fruit of love wholeheartedly and relish its flavour!

We have obtained only a hundred songs of Valayapati. I have fully incorporated their grace and notions in this book. This is a rare and great epic poem. Dante was energised by Virgil's words. The author of 'Thakkayagabharani' was greatly inspired by Valayapati. As it finds mention in great works such as Sivapadikaraurai, Tholkappiam, Ilampooranam, Yaparungala Vriddhi and Purathirattu, it is evident that it is an epic poem lauded by poets. But we are unable to even name its author exactly.

Keeping in mind the objectives to be achieved in the Tamil world in the course of time and in order to preserve that which is available and to bring to light the greatness of Tamil scholars in the world, I started and completed this book with the help of Divine Grace. The Tamil people cannot now forget the name of Valayapati.

After prolonged research to delineate the story, I have penned the events making suitable modifications according to the times. Valaya + pati means 'unbending (not easily moved to compassion) + husband. Who was that husband? Listen to a summary of the story:

There was a very wealthy man called Vayira Vaanigan in Kaveripoompattinam; he had two wives: the first wife's name was Anthari: she was a jealous and deceitful woman. The second wife's name was Pathini: she was from the Madurai Vellalar family, a highly virtuous woman and an ardent devotee of Siva Shakti. The second wife became pregnant. The first wife was consumed with jealousy; together with her brother Sathan, she raised a hue and cry and said: "It was not proper to raise a family with a woman from a different caste; she must be ostracized." Sathan was also a conniving man. Losing his senses due to their persistent agitation, Vayira Vaanigan threw his second wife out of the house and embarked on a ship to travel abroad. Sathan proclaimed the child he had with his mistress to be Anthari's child and deceived everyone.

Editions ASSA, Christian Piaget